Book 14: Chapter 29


    All right. Now, let me hear what you want to say. Its clear from your gaze that something happened. I noticed it long ago. I know youre hiding something from me. The way you look at our child evidently shows that youre very apologetic. Did you betray me? asked Ling Yue.


    Ling Yue finally returned to her human form after a long time in her fox form. She sat opposite me and looked at me with her eyes narrowed as shebed her long red tail.


    Our child was wrapped up in a nket and lying in the crib located next to Ling Yue. Ling Yue looked at me then our child. She softly giggled, and then caressed her childs head. Our child went to sleep after having a full meal. She was still in the form of a fox, though


    Its all right. Dont worry. Shell be like me after a week. What a cute girl. I feel shes prettier than me. Shes inherited our races eyes, remarked Ling Yue.


    I couldnt see our child having any traits that resembled me. I wasnt a fox, after all I couldnt see any resemnce between me and her in her current state.


    Ling Yue gently caressed her child, and then gave her a forehead kiss. She then looked back at me. Her tender expression immediately vanished. She, instead, wore on a stern and reprimanding expression. Her change upset me a little Voice soft, she questioned, I sent a message to the Imperial Pce beforehand. Did you not receive it? Why did you only arrive when I was going through so much pain?


    I attempted to hug Ling Yue; however, she pped me without a word beforehand. The p virtually sent me back to the days where I could see the former ice and snow and anthropoid silhouettes Angry, she loudly eximed, Im being serious here. What do you want? Dont even think about touching me unless you properly exin why you werete today!! You may be here now, but that doesnt change the fact that you werete!!


    I held my hand to my face. I exined, Okay, okay, okay Ill tell you. Simply put, I wasnt in the Imperial Pce So, I never received the message you sent. Therefore, I didnt know when you were scheduled to give birth Furthermore I was elsewhere


    Ling Yue looked as if she was pondering whether or not I was lying to her. I didnt feel guilty. Thus, I looked at her without behaving as if I was guilty. That was why she didnt say anything, either. Instead, she followed up by asking, What about Nier and the rest, then? Why are they back? Where have you been? Why didnt youe back? Do you have another mistress out there?


    I did indeed bring back a woman  two for that matter  except, I didnt n to tell Ling Yue about them. I took in a deep breath before replying, Because Im going to die.


    Uhm, uhm, youre right. If you brought a woman back and have been cheating with her during this time, then you, indeed, are dead. Ling Yue looked at me indifferently as though she didnt think I was being serious.


    I solemnly exined, Im serious, Ling Yue. Im serious. We met with danger when we left this time. I used magic; consequently, my mana has been damaged. Im no longer capable of producing mana. An elf who cant produce mana is bound to die.


    Ling Yue was stunned. Her flippant expression vanished. Partly astounded and partly distrustful, she questioned, Are you serious?! Arent you half-elven? Dont you have humanitys blood flowing in you? Why would you have the illness of an ordinary elf?


    My organs and blood are elven even if I am half-elven. I have a human appearance, but my internal mechanisms are that of a very normal elf.


    I felt myself choking on my words. I gently grabbed Ling Yues hand. Her expression changed to a deeply sorrowful look. She held my hand back tightly. Her gaze was filled with worry and regret. In a shaky voice, she asked, Th-That doesnt mean youll die for sure, right? There must be a way, right? If its a mana problem Ill just help you store mana from now on You wont die for sure, will you?


    Ling Yue, can you transfer your mana to me?


    Just suck my blood just as Lucia did. Dont give up. Dont stop trying. Troy, youre not the type of person to give up so easily! eximed Ling Yue looked at me. It was the first time Id seen her so anxious. Her lips were still pale due to her having just given birth. In a shaky voice, she added, Dont go, Troy. Theres bound to be a solution! There definitely is. Where theres a will, theres a way. The North cant be without you, and neither can I. Same goes for our child So dont die!


    I smiled helplessly: Ling Yue, you called me by my name


    Ling Yue lost control; she leapt over and grabbed my cor. She mounted me and yelled, Ill call you anything, Troy, husband, my love, my dear, whatever you want; just dont die, okay? Didnt you promise toe visit us at set intervals?! Doesnt this mean you lied to us?! You liar! You Liar!! You dont have my permission to die! I absolutely wont allow you to die! Why did you do this?! Look at your child! Look at our child! Youre telling me youre about to die now? I was initially scared her father wouldnt see her birth, but youre taking the initiative to give up on apanying her through life? You dont like me? You dont like our child?! Look at your child! Can you bear to leave her when shes so cute?!!


    I sped Ling Yues face: I dont want to die, either, Ling Yue. I dont want to leave you two, either. I love you. I love you as I always have, so I cant suck your blood. I can suck the blood of others to sustain my life, but Im not a vampire. I dont want to be a parasite who relies on others to live. Moreover, you need someone to provide you with mana, too, dont you? How will you provide me with mana if theres nobody to provide you with mana?


    Ling Yues lips moved. She desperately wanted to say something, but she couldnt. Her concerned tearsnded on my face. I patiently wiped her tears. Although even more tears surfaced as I wiped, I still patiently wiped them each and every time. I softly murmured, I love you all. I love each and every one of you. I love you and our child. Im so d that I got to witness her birth. That way, shell know that Im her father instead of hearing bits and pieces from you. I held her, caressed her and kissed her. Im not a good father, but I truly love her.


    Ling Yue softly sobbed. She grabbed my chest and responded in a shaky voice: Dont leave, then If you truly love us dont leave us no matter what you be Dont leave us My husband My love Dont leave us no matter what I wont force you to do anything again, and I wont hit you again Please please dont go Dont die, no, no matter what, okay? Please Im begging you


    I kissed Ling Yues tears. In a tender voice, I replied, Its all right, Ling Yue. If its possible, Ill definitelye back. Ill definitely be back as long as I can live


    She eximed, Isnt that you saying that you cante back?!! Everyone else talks about what if they <em>cant </eme back. Youre the only one who says what if you <em>can</em>e back! I told you that I want you back safe and sound by my side!! No, Im fine even if youre not with me. I just want you to live. Dont leave our daughter behind, okay? If you dont promise me toe through today, I wont let you leave. Id rather transform into my wolf form and hold you in my mouth than let you die!!


    I smiled helplessly: Id feel helpless, then. After all, I need to return to the pce in the North, since something has happened and I must hurry back.


    Ling Yue immediately expressed, Thats why you mustnt die, understand? My husband, you cannot die! You absolutely mustnt die. You must do your best to live, Troy. Do you still notprehend your own abilities? You could help me return here, and you could restore greennd to the North. What else cant you do? My Troy, you will definitely be able to live if you want to. Im begging you. Please dont give up trying the way youre quitting right now. You must find a way to live, got it? My Prince, you must live no matter if its for my sake or our childs sake. Dont die. Promise me. Promise me youll do your best to find a way to live on. My love, we cant be without you. Theres no way we can be without you. My love think hard about it. Im begging you Have a good think


    Because Ling Yues eyes were blood-red in colour, her tears resembled blood. My determination was challenged once again.


    Im so important to Ling Yue and to others. I must be just as important to Mommy Vyvyan. I cant imagine how much agony she is in over letting me out like this. If I really do die, how will they all continue on? I asked myself, spacing out when I suddenly realised I was hastily looking to die. I asked myself, Why am I in such a hurry to die? Why have I not thought about how to survive? The solution that Mom came up with for me failed, while Ling Yue cant enact it, either. Why cant I find a solution?


    I recalled hearing, You wille back to find me in the future


    I suddenly remembered there really was somebody I said to myself, I need to pay him a visit